Detroit Free Press Columnist

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Victor Martinez wouldn’t leave the dugout. The sudden reality of unfulfilled destiny was etched upon his face. He desired no company for this misery. Martinez understood better than most that time isn’t limitless. The passing of another season without a World Series championship means there’s one less chance at reopening a door slammed shut once again.

Prince Fielder wouldn’t take off his uniform. He leaned against his cubicle, nursing a postgame beverage. Time ran out, leaving Fielder with no other opportunities to alter a public perception that steadily soured as he went through 11 playoff games without a single RBI.

One of his two young sons walked up to him. Fielder told him that daddy needed a hug. And he happily jumped up onto his father’s lap.

The Tigers know they blew a tremendous opportunity this season. And they’re smart enough to know that such opportunities can’t be taken for granted despite reassurances that they will enter the 2014 season as one of the favorites to return to the American League Championship Series — for a fourth straight year.

The Tigers have the big pieces in place — multiple superstars, tremendous veteran leadership, and an owner unafraid to open his wallet a little wider when absolutely necessary.

But as Boston proved, sometimes it’s the little pieces that make the biggest difference in a playoff series.

Sometimes, it’s that situational seventh-inning reliever entrusted with getting that one key batter out. Sometimes, it’s that gritty, fundamentally sound role player capable of making the right play at the right moment.

They only need the right tweaks — a couple more power arms in the bullpen, a left-handed specialist and a Coco Crisp-type player leading off — a bargain, bounced-around veteran who does nothing spectacular but a little bit of everything well.

“There’s confidence that (Dave Dombrowski) and his guys will do what’s necessary to fill in the remaining holes,” said rightfielder Torii Hunter. “But despite what happened here, we know that this is a very good team. But even very good teams need a little adjustment here and there.”

The worst move would be impulsively overreacting. It’s a delicate balancing act knowing when a veteran team still can seriously contend for a championship as opposed to dramatically getting younger and cheaper.

The Tigers are fortunate that ownership remains committed to spending. Mike Ilitch trusts the recommendations of his baseball people. But Ilitch also understands that the ghost of Yankees patriarch George Steinbrenner still dictates the direction of the American League.

There’s a greater monetary disparity in the American League than in the National League. Seven of the top 11 payrolls in baseball this season — as well as seven of the 11 lowest payrolls — hailed from the American League.

The Tigers ranked fourth overall with an overall payroll just south of $150 million.

But each missed opportunity gets magnified because nobody knows how much longer that will be the case with the Tigers.

They still will have one of the bigger payrolls in 2014 with Hunter and Martinez entering the final year of their contracts, making a combined $26 million. Max Scherzer will be due a massive raise from his $6.75 million in 2013, either from his last arbitration year or the first year of a new long-term contract. Anibal Sanchez’s salary bumps up another $7 million next year to $15.8 million.

The Tigers have gotten to the brink of a championship the last three years because they weren’t bashful about out-Yankeeing the Yankees when it came to the checkbook. They will seriously contend next season. But it’s important that Ilitch and Dombrowski realize now that the final pieces to that World Series puzzle don’t have to be gold-plated.